Bernice Lindley

Bernice Roach McKuin Lindley, age 98, of Conway, formerly of Morrilton, died June 6, 2016 in Conway, Ark. She was born March 4, 1918, at Wesley Chapel near Hattieville in Conway County, to the late Sam and Olevia McGehee Roach. She was predeceased by her parents, her husbands, Robert "Jake" McKuin and T. Marion Lindley, her sister, Inez Newberry Bradley, her stepsister, Jorene Yokem, and her stepdaughter, Gloria Lindley Bass. Bernice's long and active life was marked by an unwavering devotion to living out her faith which included unselfishly placing the interests of her family and others above her own. In doing so, she became a role model for many. Her life fulfilled the promise described in St Paul's letter to the Galatians 5:22 "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." She lived a life of gratitude and hospitality. Her young life was marked by the early deaths of her mother and beloved step-mother. Her youth was spent in rural Conway County where she shared both difficult and happy times with her family. Household duties and farm chores, walking to attend area schools and church were part of the fabric of her early life. She married Jake McKuin in 1936. She and her young family moved to San Diego following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the commencement of WWII. There she joined the war effort manufacturing airplanes for Consolidated Aircraft. At the conclusion of the war, the family settled in the Kenwood community in western Conway County. In 1947, she began working for the Oberman Manufacturing Company (later Levi Strauss) at their manufacturing plant in Morrilton, retiring as office manager in 1967. Bernice balanced her work and family life with deep commitments of time and talent to her church and community. She joined the Morrilton First Baptist Church in 1946 at the Kenwood Mission. Throughout her 59 years of active membership, she taught Sunday School, led the Girls in Action (GA's), nurtured children in vacation Bible school, sang alto in the choir, and devoted untold hours to the Women's Missionary Union, including serving five years on the Arkansas State Executive Board. In her active retirement years, her quest for learning and service led to many trips abroad with the Partnership Evangelism Program where she shared her faith with people in England, Scotland, South Korea, Brazil, and Australia. Finally, in 1988, she made a WMU Lottie Moon trip to China. In addition to Bernice's church stewardship, many in Morrilton benefited from her active participation in the following organizations: the Depot Museum, the Genealogy Society, the Literacy Council, Conway County Vision 2020, and the Conway County Care Center where she served as a volunteer for twelve years. In 1993, she was recognized as the Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce's "Citizen of the Year" and twice recognized for "Outstanding Leadership and Volunteer Service" by the State of Arkansas. In 2005, she moved to the College Square Retirement Community in Conway and joined Woodland Heights Baptist Church. At age 87, in 2005, she presented her family with a priceless gift: her bound memoirs entitled Come Along With Me. Mrs. Lindley is survived by her two sons, Bob G. McKuin (Mary Ann) of Little Rock, and Barry L. McKuin (Phyllis) of Morrilton; four grandsons, Andrew McKuin (Kameron), New York City, NY, Joel McKuin (Sherry), Los Angeles, Calif.; John McKuin, Fayetteville, and Timothy McKuin (Vanessa), Little Rock; one granddaughter, Laura McKuin Puryear (Jake), Abu Dhabi, UAE; six great-grandchildren, Regan, Jane, Meredith and Anna Puryear of Abu Dhabi, and Maxson and Sena McKuin of Los Angeles. Mrs. Lindley is also survived by her brother, S.G. Roach and her half-brother, Dean Roach (Pat) all of Morrilton, her half-sister Ann Payne (Loy) of Owassa, Okla., a host of nieces and nephews, and by her stepchildren, Pat Hobbs (Howard), Charles Lindley (Darlene), and Judy Reno, all of California, and their families. The family extends appreciation to the staff at College Square Retirement Community, Conway Regional Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Heritage Living Center, and especially to Mrs. Helen Nabholz, for their loving care. A memorial and service of celebration will be held at the First Baptist Church in Morrilton, Ark. on Saturday, June 11th at 1:30 p.m. with Dr. Bill Brown officiating. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, at the funeral home. Private burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery by Harris Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First Baptist Church, 200 E Church St, Morrilton, Ark. 72110 or the Woodland Heights Baptist Church, 4215 Prince St., Conway, Ark. 72034. Online guestbook: www.harrisfuneralhomes.net.